Determination of molybdenum in biological materials

Z. Marczenko (1) , Ryszard Lobinski (2, 3)

1 Warsaw University of Technology [Warsaw]
2 LCABIE - Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement
3 IPREM - Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux

The accurate determination of molybdenum in biological materials is of considerable importance because of the essential role played by this element in human metabolism. However, data on the Mo content in biological samples and especially in clinical materials are often contradictory due to the inadequate sensitivity and reliability of the instrumental techniques used and to insufficient control of contamination during the analytical procedure. Despite recent developments in Mo determination by electrothermal atomic absorption and plasma atomic emission spectrometry, measurements in human blood and serum remain beyond the scope of most hospital laboratories involved in the usual routine testing. Further development of atomic spectrometric methods or a wider availability of neutron activation analysis may provide more data which is required for a better understanding of the nutritional role of Mo and its metabolism in humans. Advantages and limitations of the analytical techniques used for the determination of Mo in biological materials are critically discussed with particular attention given to clinical samples. The most common sources of analytical error are discussed and methods for their reduction are given

Domaines: Chimie analytique; Biochimie [q-bio.BM]

Z. Marczenko, Ryszard Lobinski. Determination of molybdenum in biological materials. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1991, 63 (11), pp.1627--1636. ⟨10.1351/pac199163111627⟩. ⟨hal-01559737⟩